Preview: The Warden

[Rechan]

The warden seems a lot more controllerish than other defenders. It may lack in upfront damage compared to the fighter, but it certainly does a lot more to hinder enemies.

I noticed this as well. However, the Wildblood build is supposed to be "Striker"-like, but I don't get a lot of striker off of it. All of the powers do seem controller-like.

At first read this class seems to be way over the top. It is way more durable than the fighter or the swordmage

Have you taken a glance at the Battlerage Vigor fighter? Tons, and tons, of HP.

In contrast to the Warden, the Swordmage is actually intentionally softer than a fighter or paladin, because that's part of the design. But the Warden is, by nature of the very class, defensively loaded and controller-like. It doesn't bring the damage.

and it seems destined to slow down game play in the hands of certain players and DMs that have trouble paying attention to the battlefield/round-to-round enemy repositioning.

Just like the wizard or druid, which has lots of battlefield effects. Or the Bard who has tons of ally repositioning powers.

I really don't think that "It's bad for people who are bad at 4e combat" is a valid criticism.

 

[FireLance]

My mistake. That is way too much HP for the class then. IMHO AC and HP from the same stat should have a knee jerk reaction due to what should be obvious problems.

In mitigation, the warden's primary stat is Strength. A high-Strength, high-Constitution warden would have good AC and Fortitude, but poor(er) Reflex and Will.

 

[Rechan]

As I read through this, I find some spots that confuse me.

For instance, Nature's Wrath:

Once during each of your turns, you can mark each adjacent enemy as a free action. This mark lasts until the end of your next turn.

Emphasis mine.

What does "each of your turns" mean? I've never seen the phrase used before.

Considering that people only get 1 turn per round, then wouldn't it have been easier to just say "Once per round"?

Thorn Strike

This one initially confused me, because it's a melee attack that pulls the target. I didn't realize that it granted reach until on the third read of the power I noticed the "Melee 2". I think they could have spelled that out a little better, because I think the subtlety of that will be missed by many.

 

[FireLance]

As I read through this, I find some spots that confuse me.

For instance, Nature's Wrath:

Emphasis mine.

What does "each of your turns" mean? I've never seen the phrase used before.

Considering that people only get 1 turn per round, then wouldn't it have been easier to just say "Once per round"?

I guess they really mean once per round, during your turn. It's probably to close off the possibility of using it outside your turn since it's a free action.

 

[Belphanior]

Considering that people only get 1 turn per round, then wouldn't it have been easier to just say "Once per round"?

No, because then you can mark people when it's not your turn.

Turn != round

This one initially confused me, because it's a melee attack that pulls the target. I didn't realize that it granted reach until on the third read of the power I noticed the "Melee 2". I think they could have spelled that out a little better, because I think the subtlety of that will be missed by many.

Really? I thought it was crystal clear, if not particularly spectacular. Of course I do always make sure to read every keyword, every line, and what defense it targets. Maybe I'm unique in that. But IMO if people can't be bothered to read what a power does then they deserve to not grok it.

 

[Rechan]

It's very clear that the Warden, by intention (given the class's fluff) is all defense. They don't bring the hurt (only 1 encounter power does 2[W]), but they definitely play second-string melee controller well. I don't think they do the Secondary Striker role all that well, given the few powers we've seen.

It occurs to me that the Swordmage's controller aspect is very Blasty - area affects that do damage. The Warden's controller aspect is very Battlefield Shaping. Which is a nice compliment.

I'm very underwhelmed by their At-Wills (Earth Shield Strike is lame). However, getting access to two class-feature At-Wills is not bad.

I do love that you can mark every adjacent enemy as a free action. That is sweet. I am disappointed though that their marks don't do anything fancy; I liked the Paladin's Divine Challenge, and the SM's Aegises. But, the two mark-related at-wills go a long way.

 

[Starfox]

I kind of like it, as a first gut reaction. It brings the old melee druid back, hopefully without codzilla.

 

[Rechan]

I'm very thankful that the Warden's close powers are 'each enemy'.

 

[op1983]

I like playing the tank. Also no one else in my groups usually play the tank so I like that I have another type of tank I get to play. I look forward to getting a chance to play this guy. But now I need to work up a background that I like.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

It's very clear that the Warden, by intention (given the class's fluff) is all defense. They don't bring the hurt (all but 1 of the encounter powers do 2[W]), but they definitely play second-string melee controller well. I don't think they do the Secondary Striker role all that well, given the few powers we've seen.

If there is a secondary striker role about them, it seems more about enhanced mobility than it is doling out the damage. But certainly, rangers and rogues have little to worry about with respect to wardens supplanting them as the group's main striker.